Celebrating 25 Years of Old Skool Sessions: A Radio Legacy of Hip-Hop, Funk, and Soul

For 25 years, Old Skool Sessions has been spinning vinyl, sharing deep cuts, and keeping the spirit of classic hip-hop, funk, and soul alive on the airwaves. This weekend, fans of the long-running Radio Catskill program will have a chance to celebrate the milestone alongside hosts DJ Chuck and Selector sTArKeY at the station’s annual music sale.

“Man, I can’t believe it,” said DJ Chucks, founder of Old Skool Sessions. “It’s, you know, I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. Time goes by so quickly… Selector sTArKeY always does his part and fills in the gaps where I can’t. I want to take my hat off to Mr. Selector sTArKeY. Thank you for all the work, man.”

Selector sTArKeY, who joined DJ Chucks a few years after the show began, reflected on the enduring passion that keeps them on the air. “We’re all what I call radio dogs and we’ve been at it a long time,” he said. “We’ve devoted part of our lives to radio. That’s just… we loved it when we were little kids and this is a dream come true.”

For DJ Chucks, music has been a lifelong pursuit. He recalls his early years in Queens, New York, where house parties and record collections sparked his love of sound. “We didn’t have what we have today with the internet and all these players,” he said. “We had 45s and albums… I would always ask to play, entertain, and learn about the music.”

His tastes were eclectic from the start: Motown, reggae, James Brown, disco, funk, Latin music, salsa, and calypso all shaped his ear. Hip-hop arrived organically through block parties and park jams, where DJs and MCs experimented with beats, mics, and homemade echo boxes. “That’s where I came in,” DJ Chucks said. “I would travel that whole south Queens section by bike. I wasn’t even in my teens yet.”

Selector sTArKeY described how their partnership began: “I was a big fan, and I called Chucks and said, ‘Do you know it’s going to be James Brown’s birthday coming up?’ I had all these James Brown records, and Chucks said, ‘Bring them in.’ That’s how I started.” He initially contributed reggae segments and helped expand the show’s range, adding multiple genres in a single night.

Old Skool Sessions officially debuted on Radio Catskill in October 2000, after DJ Chucks was encouraged by the station manager Christine Ahern to volunteer on air. “She gave me that on-air slot to get me comfortable and it helped a lot,” Chuck recalled. “I could be creative at the same time.”

Over the years, the show has remained true to its roots in deep record digging and live DJing, a practice that continues at the station’s popular music sales. This year, DJ Chucks and Selector sTArKeY will spin live at the annual post-Thanksgiving event, promising a mix of obscure tracks and classic grooves.

“It’s going to be happening and you want to bring a friend,” DJ Chucks said. “There’s literally something for everybody. We try to mix it, hang out, and have fun for a couple of hours with the people coming in to shop and buy music.”

As Old Skool Sessions marks a quarter-century on the air, the hosts reflect on the personal connections and community built through radio.  Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Old School Sessions this Saturday during the station’s big music sale, with records, instruments, and more from 10 am to 3 pm.

Image: DJ Chucks. (Credit: Jason Dole)